NameCensus.

UK surname

Benfield

A locational surname derived from places in Hertfordshire and Somerset, England, likely referring to a bean field.

In the 1881 census there were 861 people recorded with the Benfield surname, ranking it #4,393 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,344, ranked #4,486, down from #4,393 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Newland (Bream, Clearwell, Newland, Coleford), West Dean and Portland. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cotswold, Havant and West Oxfordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Benfield is 1,499 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 56.1%.

1881 census count

861

Ranked #4,393

Modern count

1,344

2016, ranked #4,486

Peak year

1999

1,499 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Benfield had 861 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,393 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,344 in 2016, ranked #4,486.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,281 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Benfield surname distribution map

The map shows where the Benfield surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Benfield surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Benfield over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 540 #4,666
1861 historical 668 #4,013
1881 historical 861 #4,393
1891 historical 933 #4,438
1901 historical 1,082 #4,467
1911 historical 1,281 #3,714
1997 modern 1,346 #4,273
1998 modern 1,486 #4,086
1999 modern 1,499 #4,092
2000 modern 1,487 #4,090
2001 modern 1,441 #4,115
2002 modern 1,481 #4,113
2003 modern 1,409 #4,206
2004 modern 1,398 #4,229
2005 modern 1,413 #4,162
2006 modern 1,397 #4,198
2007 modern 1,391 #4,251
2008 modern 1,378 #4,310
2009 modern 1,385 #4,366
2010 modern 1,388 #4,433
2011 modern 1,359 #4,468
2012 modern 1,319 #4,509
2013 modern 1,345 #4,509
2014 modern 1,373 #4,463
2015 modern 1,340 #4,511
2016 modern 1,344 #4,486

Geography

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Where Benfields are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Newland (Bream, Clearwell, Newland, Coleford), West Dean, Portland and Chipping Campden. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cotswold, Havant, West Oxfordshire and Wychavon. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 London parishes London 1
2 Newland (Bream, Clearwell, Newland, Coleford), West Dean Monmouthshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Portland Dorset
5 Chipping Campden Warwickshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cotswold 009 Cotswold
2 Havant 009 Havant
3 Cotswold 005 Cotswold
4 West Oxfordshire 001 West Oxfordshire
5 Wychavon 011 Wychavon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Benfield

These lists show first names that appear often with the Benfield surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Benfield

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Benfield, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Benfield surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Benfield household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Benfield is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Benfield is most concentrated in decile 7 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Benfield falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Benfield is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Benfield, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Benfield

The surname Benfield originated in England, emerging in the 13th century. It is a locational name, deriving from the Old English words "bene" meaning bean and "feld" meaning field or open area. This suggests the name initially referred to an area where beans were cultivated or harvested.

Early recordings of the name include Robert de Benefeld in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1273. In Norfolk, Robert Benefeld is mentioned in the Feet of Fines records for 1311. Other spellings from antiquity include Benyfeld, Benefeild, and Benfeild.

The Domesday Book, the comprehensive survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the surname Benfield. However, it does mention several place names that may have contributed to the formation of the surname over time, such as Benefeld in Berkshire and Beneworth in Gloucestershire.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname was Sir Thomas Benfield (c. 1370-1445), a prominent English landowner and Member of Parliament for Berkshire during the reign of Henry VI. Another notable figure was Richard Benfield (1512-1564), a wealthy merchant and alderman in the City of London during the Tudor period.

In the 17th century, Sebastian Benfield (1619-1693) was an English clergyman and chaplain to Charles II, known for his sermons and theological writings. A century later, Paul Benfield (1741-1810) was an influential English merchant and politician who amassed a substantial fortune through his involvement in the East India Company.

John Benfield (1768-1843), born in Berkshire, was a successful banker and financier in London during the late Georgian era. His son, also named John Benfield (1798-1873), followed in his footsteps and became a prominent figure in the banking industry.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Benfield families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Benfield surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 164 Benfields recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.94x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 164 1.94x
Oxfordshire 113 21.64x
Surrey 113 2.74x
Gloucestershire 81 4.88x
Dorset 59 10.63x
Warwickshire 40 1.88x
Kent 38 1.32x
Hampshire 37 2.13x
Leicestershire 35 3.73x
Staffordshire 33 1.16x
Monmouthshire 25 4.09x
Derbyshire 20 1.51x
Sussex 16 1.12x
Essex 12 0.72x
Lancashire 10 0.10x
Yorkshire 9 0.11x
Nottinghamshire 8 0.70x
Berkshire 5 0.79x
Cornwall 5 0.52x
Herefordshire 5 1.44x
Devon 4 0.23x
Durham 4 0.16x
Wiltshire 4 0.53x
Cambridgeshire 3 0.56x
Cheshire 3 0.16x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.39x
Channel Islands 2 0.80x
Glamorgan 2 0.14x
Hertfordshire 2 0.34x
Isle of Man 2 1.27x
Royal Navy 2 1.98x
Somerset 2 0.15x
Suffolk 2 0.19x
Worcestershire 2 0.18x
Norfolk 1 0.08x
Northamptonshire 1 0.13x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.37x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Chipping Campden in Gloucestershire leads with 33 Benfields recorded in 1881 and an index of 611.11x.

Place Total Index
Chipping Campden 33 611.11x
Portland 32 107.20x
St Pancras London 27 3.97x
Chipping Norton 26 215.23x
Farnham 18 56.18x
Portsea 18 5.30x
Leafield 17 821.26x
Battersea 16 5.14x
Burton Dassett 16 846.56x
Camberwell 16 2.96x
Kensington London 16 3.40x
Leicester St Margaret 16 7.00x
Swanage 15 218.98x
Sedgley 14 13.20x
Langton Matravers 12 463.32x
Litchurch 12 22.52x
Newington 12 3.84x
St Marylebone London 12 2.66x
West Ham 12 3.26x
Croydon 11 4.81x
Lambeth 11 1.49x
Nutfield 11 352.56x
Mickleton 10 458.72x
St George In East London 10 12.57x
Whitechapel London 10 12.00x
Charlbury 9 153.58x
Deptford St Paul 9 4.04x
Empshott 9 1914.89x
Idbury 9 1636.36x
Islington London 9 1.10x
Leamington Priors 9 17.15x
Lower Machen 9 299.00x
Annesley 8 186.48x
Bledington 8 754.72x
Bow London 8 7.43x
Enstone 8 250.00x
Leicester St Mary 8 10.56x
Walsall Foreign 8 5.42x
Wychwood 8 1290.32x
Aldershot 7 12.05x
Bethnal Green London 7 1.91x
Grafton 7 3684.21x
Spelsbury 7 443.04x
Birmingham 6 0.84x
Charlton Next Woolwich 6 19.94x
Heston 6 21.36x
Newland 6 43.04x
Poplar London 6 3.76x
St George Hanover Square 6 4.03x
Wotton St Mary 6 69.77x
Bedwellty 5 4.63x
Charlton On Otmoor 5 326.80x
Cheltenham 5 3.91x
Clapham 5 4.73x
Mancetter 5 81.57x
Middlesbrough 5 4.58x
St Luke London 5 3.69x
Stapenhill 5 25.37x
Wartling 5 287.36x
Westminster St John 5 4.85x
Westminster St Margaret 5 12.25x
Bampton 4 99.01x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 4 2.56x
Bromley London 4 2.15x
Chelsea London 4 1.57x
Coedkernew 4 833.33x
Deal 4 16.25x
Finstock Fawler 4 229.89x
Hendon 4 13.14x
Icklesham 4 159.36x
Monmouth 4 24.68x
Sheepy Magna 4 330.58x
Southwark St George Martyr 4 2.35x
Southwick 4 16.79x
St Lawrence 4 20.16x
Trentham 4 16.47x
West Dean 4 14.85x
Falmouth 3 8.85x
Preston 3 1.12x
Southwark St John 3 11.60x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Benfield surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Benfield surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 49
John 43
Henry 38
George 37
Charles 31
Thomas 25
Joseph 23
Richard 18
James 17
Alfred 12
Edward 12
Frederick 11
Harry 11
Walter 11
Albert 10
Arthur 7
Robert 7
Samuel 6
Alexander 4
Benjamin 4
David 4
Ernest 3
Francis 3
Herbert 3
Seth 3
Abraham 2
Absalom 2
C.W. 2
Frank 2
Fredrick 2
Geo. 2
Gustave 2
Tom 2
Wm. 2
Andrew 1
Benj.N. 1
Chas. 1
Eli 1
Elijah 1
Emett 1
Enos 1
Frances 1
Fredk. 1
Jesse 1
Job 1
Josiah 1
Lawrence 1
Levi 1
Lewis 1
Louis 1

FAQ

Benfield surname: questions and answers

How common was the Benfield surname in 1881?

In 1881, 861 people were recorded with the Benfield surname. That placed it at #4,393 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Benfield surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,344 in 2016. That gives Benfield a modern rank of #4,486.

What does the Benfield surname mean?

A locational surname derived from places in Hertfordshire and Somerset, England, likely referring to a bean field.

What does the Benfield map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Benfield bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.